Clyde Moore: Favorites of yours

What’s great locally? Asking locals seems an obvious strategy to find out.

This week, in honor of Labor Day, I set out to find some local workers along Park Avenue to provide opinions on some of their local favorites.

This is a format I’m going to be playing around with a lot in the future, as it gets you, your friends and neighbors involved and, well, I had a hoot in the process. Do their favorites match up to some of yours? Let’s see. Go onto this story on Facebook and provide some of your own answers and I may include them in my blog on the WPMO site in the evenings!

I asked workers about their local favorite frequent lunch spot, favorite special occasion spot, best spot to go on a hot date, best place for letting your inner child out to play, where your house or apartment might shop if it could do so for itself, about their favorite annual event, best spot for entertainment, where a pet might go if they could shop alone, about farmers markets and if there was one thing we’re missing locally, what that might be.

Maureen Mitchell – works at Ancient Olive & Spice & Tea Exchange

Favorite frequent lunch spot: “Power House for healthy pita sandwiches, vegetarian. Healthy, vegetarian, lots of sprouts and carrots. I like it!”

“Special occasion spot would be Prato — just delicious food. Nice atmosphere, creative.”

“Hot date locally? I like Armando’s over on Hannibal Square. Romantic, outdoor dining, there’s music sometimes coming over from next door at mi Tomatina.”

Feeling like a kid? “Maybe go to the farmers market on Saturday morning and eat kettle corn.”

Her home would go “to Ten Thousand Villages for, well, all the different things, I don’t even know how to describe. World-influenced, hard-to-find items.”

Favorite annual events? “Hmmm, concerts in the park — I like music in the park. What did they just have? A jazz thing, but live music in the park.”

Entertainment? “Enzian Theater in Maitland for foreign films. It’s truly an art house and I love the feel there. You can sit outside and have a drink.”

Dogs about town? “I have two dogs. I can’t think of the one down on Fairbanks — I just went there for treats. Pookies! I bought some treats there and they have a very nice selection.”

Farmers markets? “We have a new farmers market once a month in Oviedo. For a small, local farmers market, they’re doing a great job.”

What’s one thing missing? Co-workers volunteer, “A cheese shop? Okay, a cheese shop.” Then adds: “A deli. Yeah, a deli sandwich shop.” They discuss Tiffany Deli, hopefully that’ll fill the void soon.

Didem Isik-Widener – Realtor for Winter Park Land

Lunch spot? “I like Houston’s. (Now Hillstone) I like their salads, Thai Salad these days, I think they call it.”

Special occasions? “I like all these places. Luma. I like the atmosphere.”

“I like Houston’s because of the lake.” I ask if she wants a view competing with her on a hot date? “What do you mean?” Then says, “Wherever they take me.”

“I don’t feel like a kid,” she says, then adds kids she knows like “Yogurt places. They like Yogurtland on 17/92.”

Annual event? “Halloween costume pets competition.” She smiled and looked up when she said that — there was a kid in there then!

Local entertainment? “The only entertainment I do is drinking wine. Any of the places along here on Park Avenue. Wine Room.”

What are we missing? “You have to travel so far to get to a bookstore*.”

*Editor's note: There is a bookstore within the Winter Park Public Library, The New Leaf Bookstore, which helps fund the library’s programs. There’s also Brandywine Books at 114 S. Park Ave. # E in Winter Park.

Cindy Baugher – works at Synergy on Park Avenue

Favorite lunch spot? “I would have to say the Winter Park Pizza because it’s just awesome. They really have the best pizza on the Avenue.”

But for a special occasion, “Buca di Beppo. Lots of room, great food, you can bring a big group and just hang out.”

Hot date? (And an awesome idea!) “Scenic boat ride tour.”

When feeling like a kid? “Taking the bike and going down Cady Way trail.”

‘Home’ shopping? “Anywhere on Park Avenue. Earth Inspired Living.”

Annual event: “The Winter Park Arts Festival, the one in the spring. All the great art, all the artists.”

When her dog goes shopping, it’s “Doggie Door, for collars and leashes and treats.” With, “at least two” bags full.

She LUVs the Winter Park Farmers Market for “mainly the food, cheeses.”

And we need “more organic restaurants, but they’re popping up.”

Brandon Kush, works for One Way Valet on Park Avenue / New England, attends UCF

Favorite for lunch? “Cheesecake Factory. Their portions are so big and the price isn’t too bad either. I always come out of there with more food for tomorrow.”

Special occasion spot would be, “Probably 310. I feel like atmosphere is very nice in there, you can’t go wrong. Plus, I like the fish.”

On a date? “Probably a movie and dinner. Dinner, locally? Probably Cheesecake Factory again. They have valet, so you look like you’re a big shot and it looks nice in there.”

Feeling like a kid? He’s 19. “I was going to say Chuck E. Cheese, but I don’t think there’s one around here. It would probably be taking my motorcycle out. I love taking my bike out. My kid moment.”

A student at UCF and doing “college kid budgeting,” his focus on interior needs seems to focus on TJ Maxx again and again.

Favorite events? “Movies in the park”

He says his dog would shop at TJ Maxx, also, “My mom came home from TJ Maxx with stuff for the dog. I love my dog (a black Chow).”

What are we missing? “A teen night club. Not one for 30 and 40s people, but a teen nightclub. There’s Rollins but there’s nothing close by, nothing night club-ish.”

Irene DeVane – owner of DeVane’s in Hannibal Square

For lunch? “Wonderful favorite lunch place is Hot Olives — they have the best lunch salads and light bites at night.”

Local special occasion spot? “Enzo’s is my favorite — it’s kind of far out, but Enzo’s for special occasions. And I do like to go to Ruth’s Chris.”

Hot date time? “Prato! Cause it’s got a fun bar area and it’s very lively.”

Sort of like a kid? “To have fun and eat and dine? If I wanted to be wild and crazy, where would I go? I go with my girlfriends to Luma and we have a good time. That’s as crazy as I get.”

For the home? “Oh, here, DeVane’s, cause I’ve got everything I need here, or want.”

Annual events? “I’d have to say I like the Autumn Arts Festival because I can see things better; it’s not as crowded. So, as a local, it’s user-friendly.”

Located near the farmers market, “I love the Farmers Market. Convenient … vegetables and sometimes cupcakes, and plants, all the time.”

What are we missing? “We have one, Shooz, and it’s good, but it’s comfortable shoes, which are great.” She’s looking for dressy, in-between pumps and comfortable everyday types.

Daniel Muni – owner of Muni Strings in Hannibal Square

For lunch? “Pita Pit, probably, and then Armando’s at night. Any time we work late we pick up a pizza from Armando’s.”

“It would depend on the (special) occasion, really. Truffle’s is quite good, we go to Dexter’s frequently. There’s the hidden Bistro on Park and of course, Armando’s; we like Armando’s a lot.”

For a hot date? “Luma. It seems pretty high end. It’s also where Paul McCartney eats when he’s in town. We saw him drive by, actually, the day he was there. We saw this Rolls-Royce drive by and we thought that guy looks remarkably like Paul McCartney. I didn’t think twice about it until we saw on the news that he was there.”

To be a big kid? “Disney. If you feel like a kid, go to Disney.”

For the home? “DeVane’s … it’s right across the street. She has great stuff.”

Events? “Probably the spring arts festival, and the autumn arts festival, they go hand in hand with us. I love the culture and atmosphere. Actually, that painting over there was painted by a lady who was inspired by our shop. She’s from Alabama, took photographs and matched colors to wood floor, mailed it to us later. Baxter across the street organizes it.”

“For entertainment, I like to see the Orlando Philharmonic play at the Bob Carr.”

Like farmers markets? “I do. We work on Saturdays so I don’t get there enough, but absolutely, love it.”

What do we need? “We need more music around town. We already have the Orlando Philharmonic, but there needs to be more people going to it, and we need more outside groups coming in to play music.”

Dorl Pierson Squires – works at front desk for Winter Park Chamber of Commerce

Favorite lunch spot? “310. Atmosphere, (always know) what to have on the menu.”

For special occasions? “Cheesecake Factory, because I just love their salads.”

Hot date spot? “Luma. Quiet, nice food, nice bar.”

To be a kid again? “Disney. That’s where you can be a kid.”

Tess Finch – works at Bajalia, attends Rollins, 18 years old

For lunch? “Panera, because their salads, and I can’t find a $4 salad anywhere else.”

Hot date? “I’ve been to that Turkish food restaurant, yes, Bosphorous (Turkish Cuisine), best date place ever. Even though it’s really loud and noisy, for me, coffee at the end of the date is the best thing, especially Turkish coffee.”

Feeling like a kid? “I wear a sun dress and I run around Leu Gardens.”

Where would her apartment shop? “I guess local thrift stores. There’s this one called Owl’s Attic on Forsyth near Semoran and they’ve just got the most unique stuff in there, the nicest staff. Very homey.”

Events? “I like going to the arts festivals here. I’ve been going for about three years.”

Entertainment? “I just like getting together at my friend’s house. We all cook, we’re all from different places, so we’ve got Middle Eastern food, we’ve got American food, we’ve got Costa Rican food, all come together. I make the veggies.”

Where would her Shih Tzu go? “The veterinary clinic because she’s there almost every week.”

What’s local missing? “Affordable apartments.”

Michaela McConnon – server at The Bistro on Park Avenue

Hot date? “Park Avenue, anywhere, because it’s fancier, you can dress up, you don’t have to. Bistro, 310.”

Feeling like a kid? “Rebounderz. The whole place is made of trampolines, you jump off the wall, everything.”

What could we use more of? “More outside events. I like to get out of the house and have fun. If there was a place with a bigger patio, hang out, have fun.”

Georgette Harper – works for city of Winter Park, six years, lives in Universal Studios area

For lunch? “I like Black Bean Deli. I like Spanish food.”

Markets? “I like Winter Park festivals, fall and spring, art festivals.”

“I like the Winter Park (farmers market) and I like the one Mount Dora. Also the one in Sanford.”

Madeline Steel – works at Sassafras, 16 years old

For lunch? “I really like Power House. I love their smoothies. They use all the fresh fruit. And I love the Power House ‘fuel,’ the bananas, the strawberries, so good.”

Special occasions? “I like 310. That’s my favorite. It’s just really good. My sister used to work there.”

On a date? “Best place to go — go out to dinner on Park Avenue and then go for ice cream at Kilwin’s, Jeremiah’s Ice Cream.”

Feeling like a kid? “Here.” Laughing, “Because I love candy.” So you’re confessing? “Yes. It’s really fun working here.”

Her home would go to? “Williams Sonoma — I love cooking and I like food, and I love all their cool little gadgets.”

Local events? “The spring arts festival and the Christmas tree lighting.”

For entertainment? “When it’s Christmas time, I like going to the ice skating rink. And me and my friends just like coming down and walking around.”

We talk about her dog, a Bichon and a Jack Russell mix and she says BullFish in Baldwin Park. It came as a surprise to her when I told her it’s closed… “Oh my gosh, how long? Oh, we were there at Christmas.”

When at the Farmers Market? “Oh yes, the kettle corn. And their bagels are really good.”

Missing anything? “I don’t’ know. We pretty much have everything. I would have said a burger place, but we just got BurgerFi.”

Justin Simmons – just started at Simmons Jewelry, recently graduated from high school

Favorite for lunch? “BurgerFi.” Then mentions his favorite may soon be Tiffany Deli. “BurgerFi is at the moment my favorite restaurant.” He says he hasn’t lived here since he was a kid, as he’s been living in Tampa. “Park Avenue is different. Everything’s changed. I was here when I was like 8.”

Special occasions? “Improv comedy theater in downtown Orlando. It’s the funniest thing ever. It’s a comedy school and all the graduates of it every night put on a show.”

“Hot date? Hot date?” Co-workers are offering suggestions such as Prato. He says “Is there still a Melting Pot around here?” I say, “Oh, hot cheese … hot date?” “Yes, exactly, they fit together perfectly.”

Planning to attend Valencia, he says his apartment would “probably like donations from people. Nadia gave me a desk and lamp. One of my dad’s friends gave me a few chairs. It’s totally like a melting pot of everyone else’s furniture. If my house could shop for itself? If my house could shop for itself it would be like a robber, taking a few things from this house and that house.” Then throws in “I’m very nice to animals.”

Local events? “I love the arts festival. I think that’s always cool.” I ask, which one. “There’s more than one now?”

One thing we’re missing? “It’s not. I used to live in Tampa, and I’d burn through gas going everywhere. I’d have to cross a bridge to go to CVS, to go to school, I had to drive like half an hour. Here I walk to work every day; I walk to restaurants. Living on Park Avenue is amazing. It’s like a self-contained little area. My car sits idle for days. I think that’s the coolest thing about living here.”

Antonio Blanton – chef at Bistro on Park Avenue, for four years

Lunch place? “Local would actually be La Granja, right on 436 and Aloma.” (Peruvian chicken place)

Special occasion spot? “Actually Cheers on 17/92.” (North Maitland / Fern Park) He likes their karaoke nights, Tuesday through Saturday.

For a hot date? “My house.” I laugh, but he seems quite serious. “No, for real, a good place to go would be Winter Park Village — they’ve got a Cheesecake Factory.”

If his home went shopping? “Home Depot.”

Favorite events? “The arts festival. The spring one, yes. Because it’s so hectic in here. I love it.”

Shopping for his pets in their five aquariums? “PetSmart.”

Does he go to farmers markets? “Yes, I do actually. The one here in Winter Park is lovely. I’m from Kentucky, and the ones there don’t compare to here. They have a lot of things you can pick up and play with in the kitchen.”

What are we missing? “A jazz spot.”

Local Luv'n Local

DeVane’s in Hannibal Square carries a LUVly assortment of local art and jewelry. Available in store are paintings from local artists Arlene Hammond, Elizabeth Barr and Heidi Lifrage, and jewelry by Elizabeth Bates. Arlene Hammond creates wonderful local scenes, including Winter Park fountains and landmarks such as Casa Feliz. Painter Heidi Lifrage, who owner Irene DeVane has been working with since shortly after opening, paints a variety of subjects, with many of her sea life pieces now at the shop. Painter Elizabeth Barr paints beautiful botanicals and other still life subjects. Elizabeth Bates’ LUVly jewelry includes many mother of pearl necklaces, which DeVane must frequently reorder. It’s at 430 W. New England Ave.

Clyde Moore operates local sites ILUVWinterPark.com, ILUVParkAve.com and LUVMyRate.com, and aims to help local businesses promote themselves for free and help save them money, having some fun along the way. Email him at [email protected] or write to ILuv Winter Park on Facebook or Twitter.